Key takeaways<\/h2>\n\n- \n
Grapefruit juice can increase the side effects of certain medications, including prescription statins and over-the-counter drugs like certain antihistamines, affecting their breakdown in the liver and intestines.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Dairy products can reduce the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline, by decreasing their bioavailability (and making them less effective) when consumed together.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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High-potassium foods, such as bananas, can lead to an excessive buildup of potassium in the body when taken with ACE inhibitors, causing significant heart rhythm problems.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Alcohol can amplify side effects such as nausea and dizziness when mixed with medications, and can also reduce the effectiveness or cause toxicity of certain drugs. Combining alcohol with certain medications, such as benzodiazepines for anxiety or opioids for pain, can result in slow and shallow breathing (respiratory depression), which can cause death.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
If you\u2019ve ever taken the wrong medication on an empty stomach, you know the importance of reading the outside of your pill bottle. It\u2019s not uncommon for the pharmacy to warn you not to take certain drugs with a meal. But did you know that <\/span>what<\/span><\/i> you eat can affect your medication?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>See our best drug prices<\/b><\/p>\nWhat are food-medication interactions?<\/b><\/h2>\n
According to the FDA<\/span><\/a>, food and medication interactions occur as a result of medications reacting with certain beverages or foods. Alcohol, for example, can make you feel drowsy when mixed with some drugs. Research indicates that some food-drug interactions can lessen a drug\u2019s effects or increase its <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to speak with your provider or pharmacist about possible interactions any time you begin a new medication.<\/span><\/p>\n7 common food-drug interactions<\/b><\/h2>\n
Food and drug interactions can make prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. If you find out that a medication you are taking has a food interaction, it may be enough to avoid eating the food for one to two hours before and after taking the medication. But other times, you may need to avoid a specific food altogether. It\u2019s always best to reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance on food and medication interactions. Here are a few common culprits.<\/span><\/p>\n1. Grapefruit juice<\/b><\/h3>\n
Are you on a prescription statin, like <\/span>Lipitor<\/span> or <\/span>Zocor<\/span>? Then you might want to lay off the grapefruit juice. Compounds from the fruit (called <\/span>furanocoumarins)<\/span> can actually prevent an enzyme in your liver and intestines from breaking down the medicine. This can lead to a higher concentration of the drug in the body and potentially result in increased side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBut even if you aren\u2019t on a <\/span>statin<\/span>, you might want to beware of grapefruit-drug interactions. \u201cWhat people don\u2019t realize is that it can interact with a large number of drugs, not just statins,\u201d says Morton Tavel, MD, author of <\/span>Health Tips, Myths and Tricks: A Physician\u2019s Advice<\/span><\/i><\/a>. \u201cAnyone taking virtually any medication should avoid grapefruit juice entirely.\u201d This includes over-the-counter antihistamines, <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span><\/a>, birth control, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>Grapefruit and statins<\/b><\/p>\n2. Dairy<\/b><\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re on a course of antibiotics, don\u2019t wash your pills down with a glass of milk. Dairy products can make certain antibiotics, including <\/span>ciprofloxacin<\/span>, <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span>, and <\/span>doxycycline<\/span>, less effective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cIf you have milk products in your stomach, those drugs become a lot less bioavailable,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Len Horovitz<\/span><\/a>, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nPeople on <\/span>monoamine oxidase inhibitors<\/span> (MAOIs) should also cut back on strong, aged cheeses, such as Parmesan and Camembert. These cheeses have high levels of tyramine, an amino acid that helps keep your blood pressure in check. High levels of tyramine are associated with migraine headaches and high blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cMAOIs block the enzyme responsible for breaking down tyramine, which can cause it to build up and raise your blood pressure,\u201d Dr. Tavel says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n3. Bananas and other potassium-rich foods<\/b><\/h3>\n
A high concentration of <\/span>potassium<\/span> makes bananas healthy for most of us. But you could end up with too much potassium if you eat a bunch of bananas while taking an <\/span>angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor<\/span>, like <\/span>lisinopril<\/span> or <\/span>captopril<\/span>. These medications can cause the body to retain excess potassium that would otherwise be flushed out by the kidneys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cPotassium is a great mineral and necessary in our diets, but under certain circumstances it can lead to trouble,\u201d Dr. Tavel says. \u201cAn excessive build-up of potassium can lead to significant problems with your heart rhythm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nWhile bananas are the best-known food for potassium, they\u2019re far from the only food with an abundance of the mineral. Limit your intake of sweet potatoes, mushrooms, potatoes and other high-potassium foods when taking ACE inhibitors. Additionally, <\/span>salt substitutes<\/span><\/a> often replace sodium with potassium chloride.<\/span>
<\/span>
<\/span> <\/b>Does potassium affect your blood pressure?<\/b><\/p>\n4. Black licorice<\/b><\/h3>\n
Black licorice is a polarizing candy. If you happen to love it, you might need to switch to red Twizzlers if your doctor writes you a prescription for <\/span>digoxin<\/span>, Dr. Tavel advises. Black licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin, which can lower potassium levels and cause <\/span>a toxic effect from digoxin.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Grapefruit juice can increase the side effects of certain medications, including prescription statins and over-the-counter drugs like certain antihistamines, affecting their breakdown in the liver and intestines.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Dairy products can reduce the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and doxycycline, by decreasing their bioavailability (and making them less effective) when consumed together.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
High-potassium foods, such as bananas, can lead to an excessive buildup of potassium in the body when taken with ACE inhibitors, causing significant heart rhythm problems.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Alcohol can amplify side effects such as nausea and dizziness when mixed with medications, and can also reduce the effectiveness or cause toxicity of certain drugs. Combining alcohol with certain medications, such as benzodiazepines for anxiety or opioids for pain, can result in slow and shallow breathing (respiratory depression), which can cause death.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
If you\u2019ve ever taken the wrong medication on an empty stomach, you know the importance of reading the outside of your pill bottle. It\u2019s not uncommon for the pharmacy to warn you not to take certain drugs with a meal. But did you know that <\/span>what<\/span><\/i> you eat can affect your medication?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>See our best drug prices<\/b><\/p>\n According to the FDA<\/span><\/a>, food and medication interactions occur as a result of medications reacting with certain beverages or foods. Alcohol, for example, can make you feel drowsy when mixed with some drugs. Research indicates that some food-drug interactions can lessen a drug\u2019s effects or increase its <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to speak with your provider or pharmacist about possible interactions any time you begin a new medication.<\/span><\/p>\n Food and drug interactions can make prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. If you find out that a medication you are taking has a food interaction, it may be enough to avoid eating the food for one to two hours before and after taking the medication. But other times, you may need to avoid a specific food altogether. It\u2019s always best to reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance on food and medication interactions. Here are a few common culprits.<\/span><\/p>\n Are you on a prescription statin, like <\/span>Lipitor<\/span> or <\/span>Zocor<\/span>? Then you might want to lay off the grapefruit juice. Compounds from the fruit (called <\/span>furanocoumarins)<\/span> can actually prevent an enzyme in your liver and intestines from breaking down the medicine. This can lead to a higher concentration of the drug in the body and potentially result in increased side effects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But even if you aren\u2019t on a <\/span>statin<\/span>, you might want to beware of grapefruit-drug interactions. \u201cWhat people don\u2019t realize is that it can interact with a large number of drugs, not just statins,\u201d says Morton Tavel, MD, author of <\/span>Health Tips, Myths and Tricks: A Physician\u2019s Advice<\/span><\/i><\/a>. \u201cAnyone taking virtually any medication should avoid grapefruit juice entirely.\u201d This includes over-the-counter antihistamines, <\/span>calcium channel blockers<\/span><\/a>, birth control, and others.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b>Grapefruit and statins<\/b><\/p>\n If you\u2019re on a course of antibiotics, don\u2019t wash your pills down with a glass of milk. Dairy products can make certain antibiotics, including <\/span>ciprofloxacin<\/span>, <\/span>levofloxacin<\/span>, and <\/span>doxycycline<\/span>, less effective.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you have milk products in your stomach, those drugs become a lot less bioavailable,\u201d says <\/span>Dr. Len Horovitz<\/span><\/a>, an internist at Lenox Hill Hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n People on <\/span>monoamine oxidase inhibitors<\/span> (MAOIs) should also cut back on strong, aged cheeses, such as Parmesan and Camembert. These cheeses have high levels of tyramine, an amino acid that helps keep your blood pressure in check. High levels of tyramine are associated with migraine headaches and high blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMAOIs block the enzyme responsible for breaking down tyramine, which can cause it to build up and raise your blood pressure,\u201d Dr. Tavel says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A high concentration of <\/span>potassium<\/span> makes bananas healthy for most of us. But you could end up with too much potassium if you eat a bunch of bananas while taking an <\/span>angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor<\/span>, like <\/span>lisinopril<\/span> or <\/span>captopril<\/span>. These medications can cause the body to retain excess potassium that would otherwise be flushed out by the kidneys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPotassium is a great mineral and necessary in our diets, but under certain circumstances it can lead to trouble,\u201d Dr. Tavel says. \u201cAn excessive build-up of potassium can lead to significant problems with your heart rhythm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n While bananas are the best-known food for potassium, they\u2019re far from the only food with an abundance of the mineral. Limit your intake of sweet potatoes, mushrooms, potatoes and other high-potassium foods when taking ACE inhibitors. Additionally, <\/span>salt substitutes<\/span><\/a> often replace sodium with potassium chloride.<\/span> Black licorice is a polarizing candy. If you happen to love it, you might need to switch to red Twizzlers if your doctor writes you a prescription for <\/span>digoxin<\/span>, Dr. Tavel advises. Black licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin, which can lower potassium levels and cause <\/span>a toxic effect from digoxin.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are food-medication interactions?<\/b><\/h2>\n
7 common food-drug interactions<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Grapefruit juice<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Dairy<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Bananas and other potassium-rich foods<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/span>
<\/span> <\/b>Does potassium affect your blood pressure?<\/b><\/p>\n4. Black licorice<\/b><\/h3>\n